Decoding Data Spaces (part II): Technological Aspects

September 16, 2024

This article is part of a series dedicated to Data Spaces. We have already published a first article that offers a guide for companies and addresses the main pillars of a data space, roles, benefits and challenges. We invite you to consult it for a complete overview of the conceptual and strategic framework of Data Spaces.

In this article we will focus on the technological aspects that differentiate Data Spaces from other technologies, exploring key elements such as their main components and giving specific examples of Sector Data Spaces, including EONA-X and Catena-X.

What differentiates Data Spaces from other technologies?

Data spaces aim to become a key pillar in driving the data economy in various sectors. However, what differentiates them from other technologies such as hyperscale clouds, cloud computing, data warehouses or data lakes?

Let's take a look:

Differentiating technological aspects

At a technological level, we can highlight 4 aspects that are an intrinsic part of the Data Space and that differentiate it from other technologies.

Identity verification: Data Spaces use robust mechanisms to verify the identity of participants and ensure trust in transactions.
Clearing houses: A component that facilitates the exchange of data in a secure and transparent manner, acting as an intermediary between participants.
Marketplaces: Enables the discovery, purchase, and sale of data (and other assets such as apps or services) in a secure and regulated way, creating value for participants.
Contracts: Data Spaces use smart contracts to automate the access and use of data, ensuring compliance with the conditions agreed by whoever offers the data, such as the use to which it can be put, or the regions to which the data can be moved. They are legally binding contracts.

Technological components

Data Spaces are composed of several technical components that work together to create a secure and decentralized environment. Although each organization (such as IDSA or GAIA-X) is describing its own technical standards about the elements that have to compose a Data Space, we can extract the common elements:

Connector: Essential for communication, the Connector enables data providers and data consumers to exchange information within the ecosystem. It acts as a bridge between industrial data clouds, enterprise clouds, local applications or individual devices, connecting them to the ecosystem. It is usually a component that is installed by each participant on its premises, although there are companies that offer connector services in the cloud or hosted in the Data Space itself.
Broker: Facilitates the exchange of data through real-time search services. Its main function is to connect data providers with data consumers within the ecosystem.
Identity Provider: Responsible for managing and authenticating the identities of participants within the Data Space. Ensures secure access to the ecosystem, controlling and verifying the identity of each user or entity interacting with the space.
App Store: The App Store is a component that allows participants to discover and access various applications, data, and services within the data space. It acts as a marketplace for digital services and innovations.
Vocabulary Center: It plays a crucial role in the integration of domain-specific data vocabularies within the Data Space. It contributes to the standardization and harmonization of data formats and structures, facilitating interoperability between different information sources. They are usually defined by business vertical or scope of application. The OMOP standard, for example, is available for the healthcare sector

✅ Beyond these core components, different organizations and developers include other elements to complement the ecosystem such as software version repository, data verification, etc.

Examples of Sector Data Spaces (EONA, CATENA)

Data Spaces are no longer an abstract idea, but a developing reality with initiatives that aim to transform the way information is managed and shared. Data Spaces Radar provides a complete overview of the Data Spaces landscape worldwide.

✅ Data Spaces Radar includes information on Data Spaces initiatives, use cases and relevant projects from platforms such as GAIA-X, IDSA, FIWARE and others.

This central repository is a tool to be considered to understand the evolution and scope of Data Spaces. Below we explore some of the most prominent initiatives that are shaping the future of Data Spaces:

Catena-X: This collaborative and open data ecosystem emerges from the automotive industry. It connects global players across the entire value chain, from design to production to service. Catena-X promotes transparency and collaboration in data management, driving innovation as well as efficiency in the automotive sector.
EONA-X: This project, part of the GAIA-X LightHouse ecosystem (lighthouse projects), seeks to create a trusted environment for data exchange in mobility, transportation and tourism. EONA-X focuses on the optimization of multimodal travel, contributing to the reduction of emissions and the sustainability of transportation.
MDS – Mobility Data Space: Another project of the GAIA-X LightHouse ecosystem, MDS focuses on sovereign data exchange in the mobility sector. It provides an ecosystem for the development of innovative, sustainable and user-friendly mobility solutions, promoting fair and equitable participation in the data economy.
HEALTH-X dataLOFT: Based on the dataLOFT platform, this GAIA-X LightHouse ecosystem project seeks to implement health data in a secure and transparent manner. HEALTH-X dataLOFT will enable the individual use of health data and the development of innovative business models in the healthcare industry.

These initiatives show the transformative potential of Data Spaces in a variety of sectors. As technology evolves and the demand for collaboration and transparency in data management increases, Data Spaces will play an increasingly important role in building a more connected and smarter future.

◾ Now you know a bit more about the technology behind Data Spaces. In the next article we try to sort out all the acronyms and organizations you have seen during the article (IDSA, GAIA-X, etc.)

AUTHORS
Santiago Morante
AI Alliances and Solutions Development Manager
Paula Valles
Data Sales Consulting

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